Freshman Cydney Clanton is set to begin play at the 33rd annual Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship today at the par 74, 6,410-yard Tokyo Golf Club.

Team USA leads the all-time series, 24-8, and has won the last eight competitions in Japan. Clanton will be the fourth Tiger to represent the United States at this tournament. Missy Tuck (1990), Robin Cook (1998) and Danielle Downey (2000, 2002) were prior participants. Cook won the individual title in 1998.

The team - which consists of eight men and four women players will be coached by Mike Morrow of Kent State and Barry’s Jimmy Stobs.

Sydnee Michaels and Lizette Salas will face Nane Shinsato and Kaori Azuma and Clanton and Jessica Yadloczky tee off against Yumi Takabayashi and Hiroko Ayada in the women’s matches.

Clanton finished the season ranked No. 13 in the country, while averaging a team best 73.54 for the year. Clanton was Auburn’s top finisher at the NCAA Championship three weeks ago as she finished tied for 23rd (74-75-77-71—297). For her efforts, Clanton was named First-Team All-American and NGCA Freshman Golfer of the Year, to go along with SEC Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-SEC honors.

Shirley wins second Georgia Women’s Open
NEWNAN, Ga. — Margaret Shirley of Roswell shot a 1-under-par 71 on Tuesday to capture her second title in the Yamaha Georgia Women’s Open.

Shirley, an amateur and recent Auburn graduate who also won in 2006, had two steady rounds in the 36-hole tournament at the Canongate At SummerGrove Golf Club to finish with a 143 — one stroke ahead of first-round leader Laura Coble of Augusta and Christy Cheek of Eastman, the low professional.

Coble shot a 3-over 75 to go with Monday’s 3-under 69. Cheek, who earned $2,600 for her efforts, had back-to-back 72s.

Shirley needed just 10 putts on her final nine holes. She was two back of Coble on the first nine but chipped in for par on the 10th hole, birdied the par-5 11th to move within one shot and took charge with three consecutive birdies on holes 14 through 16. She bogeyed the 18th hole.

Coble, the 2004 champion, hit a seven-wood from 168 yards to five feet to set up a possible playoff-forcing putt on No. 18. Her birdie putt just burned the edge on the high side and lipped out.
—Associated Press